Seam pressing machine



May 4, 1948. A. s. CLARK ET AL SEAM PREssING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. l0

MQW wmml/ In @mfom May 4, 1948.

A. s. CLARK ET A;

SEAM PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10,1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nw/mfom Aem@ S. Czar/f Edu/ara. /`7. 309220657.

A. s. CLARK ET AL 2,440,675

A sEAM PRESSING MACHINE Fiied Dec. 10, 1945 5 sheets-sheet s May 4, 1948.

May-4, 1948. A. s. CLARK ET AL SEAM PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec.

l0, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnvenfars V Alfred 5'. @Zar/f Edward/Z Spe/zoe, Sr. B /zeir' 1. ne d' May 4, 1948. l A. s, C|ARK ET AL 2,440,675 l SEAM PRESS ING MACHINE Filed Dec. lo, 1945 5 sheets-sheet 5 n man tors zfred 5f Clar/f Edward/7.5209220652? By 'bmw/415 my Patented May 4, 1948 2,440,675 sEAM PRESSING MACHINE Alfred S. Clark, Beverly, and Edward M. Spence,

Sr., Lynn, Mass., assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New J erseyY Application December 10, 1945, Serial No. 634,013

This invention relates to machines for pressing roll and the feed rolls. The work is presented to the machine with the unfinished side, i. e., the

flesh side of the leather, in contact with the feed v rolls and the pressing roll. t

Although machines of the character above referred to have proved satisfactory in use upon ordinary work, neither such machines nor any other, so far as applicants are aware, .are entirely satisfactory for operation upon certain particular kinds of work. For example, some uppers are provided with what is known as Hurley back stays, that is, tabs extending from one of the quarters of the shoe upper across the line of the backseam (the actual backseam being interrupted by the tab) and eventually secured to the other quarter. Such tabs present peculiar difficulties in running through the ordinary seam pressing machine. Thertabs, when the work comes to the operator of the machine, are `usually curled or folded back over the quarter from which they ex-` tend, with their finished surfaces exposed to damage by ythe feed and presser rolls. Attempts on the part of the operator to prevent such'damage are rendered diiiicult by reason of the fact that both hands are engaged in holding the work piece. Such attempts, moreover, result in unduly slowing up the operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a seam pressing machine capable of operating upon uppers having Hurley back stays. In accordance with this object, a feature of the invention consists in the provision of a guide, engageable with the tab of a Hurley back stay, to bend the tab down upon the part of the upper which is opposite to that from which the tab extends, with the finished surface of the tab away from the feed and presser rolls. This tab guide may be readily shifted, by a treadle, from one position to another to adapt it to operation upon. either rightor left uppers; and it may, when desired, be shifted to a neutraler inoperative position.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention. the machine illustrated herein is pro- Claims. (Cl. 69-7) vided with an improved slide which carries the work support. This slide may be moved to bring the work support out from under the seam pressing roll and away from the feed rolls to enablethe operator to remove a stack of closed IDPEIS which have accumulated around the work support.

These and other features of the invention, in cluding certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will be described in connection with an illustrative machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a front elevation, with some parts removed, of an illustrative machine embodying the invention; f

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine wtih cer-V tain portions removed; v

Fig. 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the mechanism for driving one of thefeed rolls from the presser roll shaft;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front view, looking in the direction of the arrow A on Fig. 2, showing the work support in relation to the pressing roll and the feed rolls;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged view, looking in the drection of the arrow A on Fig. 2, showing the seam ridge guides in relation to the work support and the feed rolls;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged front view, looking in the direction of the arrow A on Fig. 2, of the means for guiding the tabs of Hurley back stays;

Fig. 9 is an angular view showing a work piece with a Hurley back stay being introduced into the machine; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the work piece further advancedin the machine.`

The operating instrumentalities of the illustrative machine comprise a driven seam pressing or seam rubbing roll l0 of large diameter a, work support I2 (Figs. 1 and 2), and a Pair of driven feed rolls I4 and l 6. A work piece W (Figs. 9 'and 10) consisting of a shoe upper having two quarters stitched together to form a back seam is guided to the operating members by a seam ridge guide I8 (Fig. 2),` a seam crease guide 20 `in ad- Vance of the locality of operation, and a seam crease guide 22 positioned rearwardly of the locality of operation. An additional guide 24 which may be moved from an out-of-the-way to an operative position when desired is provided for guiding the tabs of work pieces having Hurley back stays. The work piece W, which is presented to the machine wrong side out, is shown in Figs. 9 and l as having such a tab T extending from one of the quarters above the seam ridge. This tab, during the operation of the illustrated machine, is loose; after co-mpletion of the seam pressing operation :the `workv piece willi Etreiturn'ed right side out. andthe tab.v will' be stitched.downsuponA the outside of the other quarter with its iinished surface out. To avoid undue thickness of mate.- rial, the quarter to which the tab is to be stitched has a. notch N (Fig. 9) somewhat smaller 'than the tab to leave sufficient margin-forfstitchingthe tab. The seam pressing roll, the feedtrolls, the seam ridge guide, and the tabguiide.are-supported by a yoke-shaped integral bracket 25 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) having a cross piece andapair of side members 3l! and 32 which are welded (or cast integrally if preferred) at their lower en'dsto .a

base plate ttl suitable for mounting on a work benchfmot shown). :The w orl..sup.portl2 also ism ounted on thebaseplate.

The seam pressing. roll .ill isa narrow disk-'like memberhaving a uted periphery. 'It is secured uponashaftsjcurnaled inapair. of bearingsil (Eig. 5) .adjacentto its right-hand end anda similar pair of bearings (not shown) adjacentto its le1thandend,thesebearings .being carried bythe upper Aportieri of: .the ,frame member or bracket 26. vvif-pulley te secured vupon the righthand rend of `the -shaft 351sdriven by Aa .belt .d2 which, in turn, may be driven-from-.any suitable source 4of p.ower-1;o tur-n the-roll .it .at high speed.

VThe feed vroll -laefis rsecurediipon ione-.end of a shaftnzgjournaled; adjacent4 to -its y rigl1thand end in a pair of bearings le (Fig. 5) mountedin the upper right-hand portionofthe frame member 26 and also in a-bearing d8 (Eig. .Ducarried by ,a bracket .59 depending vfrom .the .cross .piece 28. Between the bearings .45 the shaft .de is slidably' keyed in a wormiwheel ,.fifZfwhichfmeshes with a.-worm=. till securedu-pona sleeye .5.5 (Fig. e) The shaft M is free tomove,axially,.but axial movement fof :thewwor-m. wheel i 52 iis` prevented :by

thexengagement oftheoppositel ends of the bearings 46 v.with thehub .0f -the worm Wheel. A stationary shaft 58 secured in the -frame .member 32 supports a set of bearings 6B and t2 upon which the gsleeve 56 -is .freely rotatable about theaxis of: the shaft 58'. A-lso. secured-` upon .the .sleevej andA rotatable in` lunison, with .the worm :5s is, .a spiral gear 64 which meshes witlifa spiralgearii keyed; uponftheishaft. Se. between.-theright-hand setfof bearings 38; rI-Through the .gearingabove described thefshaf-.t dd-is fdriven, iat a .considerably reduced. speed,4 vfrom the. .shaft 35. The frame fmember .v2-Sis,shaped-=tofprovida a.; housing 58 for these gears, which housing is. closedby acover ,plate 19.. Surrounding .the .shaft ftd. out side-thev housing .63 ais a coil, compression spring 'l2v.(1ig..1.)f:bearingy at-its rightfhand end-through alti-inist washer, l, against the acont.. wall. of ,the housing datand-at, its left-:hand .through .a thriustwasher, againstfa collar "lA-fadjustablygsecured by'fa.setscrew 13o-.the shafted. -Vll/iovement oli-.the shaft. t44 .to-wardthe left under` the influence of thespring 12 islimited by;acollar ,te engageable .with .the .bearing lla andadjustably secured to the-shaftby a .setscrew..

.The r.feed roll lll .is .mountedupcn .the rightha-nd;end of-a..,shaft 'E..(.'E:'i'g.. .1) journaledin a bearing ytlacarried by .a .bracket a2 depending from` the. cross pinete-.23` and.a.lsoir1:a=setfof :bearings.,containedwithinafhousing.84. formed inthe upper. left-hand end .ofthe f -rame.' `.'Ivhefshaft in the above-mentioned Letters Patent No. 2,419,-

Additional support for the presser roll shaft 361s ;pr.ovided;.by .bearings 85 and 8l secured in vthe bracketsandll, respectively.

'Thegiseafm ridge vguide I8 consists of a pair of :spacedfmemhers t84 and eil (Figs. 7, 9 and 10) which engage opposite sides of the seam ridge.

The `member 89 i's--slidably mounted for lateral, ,ire-right and left, adjustment upon the lower end portion of an arm 92 the upper end of which is pivotallymounted `for .lateral swinging movement .upon apin 94 (Eig. 18) conveniently in the form. oie. shoulder screw., 'The member 88. is securedlin its positionof l'ateraladjustment upon thearm 'S2-by a clamping'screw 953. The member. 9|]v .similarly secured by .a shoulder screw 9.8, .with provision .for lateral adjustment, toa depending .arm |09 which. at its. upper .end is pivotally mounted` for lateralswinging movement upon 4a shoulder screw m2 (Figc). The screws 94and |92 areboth secured inopposite end portions, of a bracket lildwhich is slidably .mounted for heightwise adjustment on .a bracket lli and which isv securedingits, adjustedposition .thereon by a clamping screw |131 passing through. a heightwise slot |99 in the 'bracket |94. The screw 94 passesthrough a holein the bracket JIM, rvand the screw |02 passes. through a slot .5.68 -formed in. the bracket |94 to. enable the arm |09 to be adjusted heightwise relatively to the arm. 92, both screws passing through washers bearing against the front Afaceoi the bracket. and beingvsecured byclampingfnuts lbearing against the rear face of `the bracket. .It -is evident that with `this arrangement -theseam .ridge guide members 83 andmay be adjusted to any desired yheight relatively to eachotherand also in unison with eachother.

IThe bracket |95. isfsecured bya screw VHB3 (Fig. 2): uponan-Lf-shaped bracket H0 (Figs. A1, 2; and 3).. A .tongue (not shown) depending from the bracket |116 andengaging a groove HB5 (Fig. 3) in thebracket VIl El provides for forward and rearward adjustment of the bracket |56 relatively to the-bracket H9. The bracket lli! is slidably mounted for forward and rearward adjustment inaguideway Vl Il carried bythe cross piece-28 and is secured therein in `its adjustedposition by a pair of clamping screws HZ passing through slots :in the bracket Il@ and threaded into the crosspiecez. The bracket llEJ has a Ydepending portion ,in which are formedslots im (Figs. l and) which serve as 4guideways for a. ,limited lateral swinging movement of the arms v92 and llllyabout their pivot screws ,94 land |62., respectively. vA coverplate IltisA secured by screws I la upon theforwardfaceof the-depending portion of the-bracket .||D,.the screws passing through heightwise elongated slots |20 formed in the coverplat-e-to4 provide for its heightwise adjustment, for a purpose which will later be explained.

Both guide members 8.9 and ,99 taper rear.- vJa-rdly from their, supporting `slides to a point close to theqpressing rolll '19,: as fshownglinFigs. l,9;

and 10. The adjacent surfaces of these members are shaped to form a flaring work-receiving entrance between them. The work-engaging surfaces of the guide members gradually approach each other in the direction of progress of the work and become parallel to enable them to bear against the opposite sides of the seam ridge of the work piece W.

A pair of leaf springs |22 and |24 (Figs. '1 and 8) secured to the lateral edges of the bracket I I0 and engaging the outer edges of the arms 92 and |00, respectively, below the bracket, yieldingly urge the guide members 88 and 60 toward each other. The lower portion of each spring is bent inwardly. as at |25, to engage its associated arm. The stiffness of these springs may be controlled by a pair of clamping plates |26 which partially cover the springs and which are secured by screws |26 with provision for heightwise adjustment to the bracket ||0. It is evident that adjusting either of the plates |26 up or down will expose more; or less of the effective portion of the spring which it controls and therefore Vary the pressure of the spring against its associated arm. The purpose of the springs |22 and |24 is to press the arms 92 and |00 toward each other, thereby yieldingly holding the members 88 and 96 against opposite sides of the seam ridge of the work piece W. When there is no work in the machine, the arms 62 and |60 bear yieldingly against the inner edges of their guide slots i4, and they are shown in this position in Figs. 1 and 8. A clearance slot |29 for the seam rubbing roll `I0 is cut into the depending portion of the bracket ||0, asshown inFigs. '1 and 8.

The tab guide 24 (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) comprises a member 'I 30 which is shaped approximately in the form of an inverted Y, having a stem portion and a pair of dependingY diverging branches, and it is pvotally mounted at a point somewhat above the junction of the stem and the branches upon al pivot pin |32 secured in the ycover plate ||6. The pin |32 may conveniently be a shoulder screw threaded into the cover plate. A boss |33 (Fig. 2), brazed on the member |30, provides a bearing for the member |30 on the pin |32. Heightwise adjustment of the member |30 is effected by adjusting the cover plate H6 up or down. Upon the lower end of the left-hand branch of the member |30 is secured, by a clamping screw |34, a Work-engaging guide member |36 and upon the lower right-hand branch of the member |30 is secured, by a clamping screw |38, a Work-engaging guide member |40. `'lhe freedom of swinging movement of the member |30 about its pivot |32 is limited by a pair of stops |42 and |44, which stops for convenience are secured in position upon the cover plate ||6 by the lower pair of screws H8. The member |30 may be swung into either stop position at the will of the operator by mechanism comprising a rod |46 pivotally connected at its left-hand end to the upper end of the member |30 and at its right-ha`nd`end to an arm |48 (Fig. l) extending upwardly from a shaft |50 (see also Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which is journaled in bearings mounted in the housing 68. Extending horizontally from the shaft |50 is an arm |52 (Fig. 1) to which is pivotally connected the upper end of a treadle rod |54 the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a treadle (not shown). A coil spring |56 surrounding the rod |54 and interposed between the upper surface of the base plate 34 and a collar |58 secured to the rod urges the rod upwardly vand thus normally holds themember |30 yieldingly against the stop 6l |42, with the left-hand work-engaging tab guide |36 in its operative position and the right-hand work-engaging tab guide |40 in an out-of-theway position. By depressing the treadle, the op erator can bring the member |30 against the stop |44 with the right-hand work-engaging member |40 in operative position and the left-hand member |36 in an out-of-the-way position. Both members |36 and |40 may be maintained in an out-of-the-way position by the use of a third or neutral stop |60 which` is pivotally mounted upon a screw |6| threaded into the bracket |0 and extending through a heightwise clearance slot in the cover plate ||6. The stop |60, which is engageable with a knob |62 on the upper portion of the member |30, is shown in Fig. 8 in its operative position against a stop pin |64; when its use is not desired it may be moved from this position by a finger piece |66 extending from the stop |60 to the left of the pivot screw I 6|. A coil compression spring |61 surroundingthe shank of the screw |6| and interposed between the head of the screw and the stop |60 holds the stop fric tionally against the face of the cover plate |6 to prevent undesired movement of the stop. It is evident that when the stop |60 is in its operative position the spring |56 will hold the tab guide |40 in a neutral position in which it straddles the work piece without touching it. A l The Work-engaging members |36 and |40 of the tab guide 24 are similar in shape, differing from each other only by reason of the factthat they are leftand right-hand members of a symmetrical pair. Each of these members con sists of a downwardly extending portion |68 and a rearwardly extending portion |10, the portions |10 of the two members diverging from each other as they extend rearwardly. The work-engaging member |36 is shown in Figs. 9 and l0 operating upon the work piece W which, as has already been stated, is now inside out. In Fig. 9 the portion |68 of the member |36 is shown as engaging the under surface of the tab T of the work piece, the tab, as often happens, being curled back in the wrong direction with its finished surface up when the work piece is introduced to the machine. Ay

smooth, rounded, continuous surface of the rnem` ber |36 extends from the lower tip of the portion |68 to the rearward tip of the portion |10 and operates somewhat in the manner of a plow as the work piece advances to uncurl the tab` and lay it down upon the opposite quarter with the finished surface of the tab down. Further advance of the work piece brings the tab under the feed roll 1|4, with the unfinished surface of the tab in engagement with the feed roll. Now, as the work piece advances, the feed roll will stretch the tab smooth and hold it down to present the unfinished surface of the tab to the presser' roll I0. Any possibility of the nished surface of theA tab being marred by the toothed work-engaging portion of the feed roll on the iiuted periphery of the presser roll is thereby avoided.

The work support |2 consists of an assembly" comprising a central disk |12 (Figs. 6 and 8) which presses the work upwardly against the roll I0, and a pair of side disksl14and |16 which support thework against the pres-sure of the ffeed rolls |4` and |6. The disk |12 and the presser roll l0 constitute a pair of pressing members which cooperate to flatten the seam ridge. The disk |12 has a hub whichis mounted upon a shaft |18 supported between'a pair of spaced ears |80 carried by a; square plunger |82 (Fig. 6). The

disks |12 and |14 and |16 are similar to the cor-` responding-,disksalreadydescribedandillustrated inflietters1-Patent No. 2,419,596.

The plunger |32 is slidable flieightwse. in .a guideway iormedin a :block |184 (Figs. landf) whichy constitutes the upper end kportion of a rearwardlydnclined vbrackettI-lii (see also'Fig. 2) A/block |81 (Figs. .1 and 6) secured against Aa lateral face-of t-he ,block |84 .retains the plunger L82 .withinits guideway. -Housed within an axial bere-in the v.plunger |82 is a coil compression spring'rl' the lower vend ,ofY which abutsagainst the upper end of a rod |92 Ywhich is rotatable and vheightwise slidable inthe block |34. The lower end portionof the rod 192 is threaded through an-.opem'ngin a bracket 5.92. The degree of-compression'ofthe spring v|88V maybe adjusted by turning aknurled head |94 formed upon the lower end of the rod |90. The bracket |92 has anupwardly extending portion- |92 which is slidable heightwise in `a guideway formed in a cover plate'lfl. Both the block |87 and the coverplate |91 aresecured to. the block |82 by screws |99. The ifupper end-oi the portion |96 has a lateral extension |98which hooks-over a bar 299 secured to the plunger 182,.,the bar 20E] serving to support the ears |39. The hook |98.thus limits the height to iwhich the spring can yieldingly urge the work support. Freely rotatable in the bracket i92- is the smooth shank portion of `a screw 292 which isithreaded into a lower lportion of the bracket |86; The bracket |92 is retained against heightwise movement relatively to the screw 202 bya collar 204 Aon the screw engaging the under surface `ofthe br-acketand a knurled head 296 on the screw engaging` the upper .surface of the bracket. The height of the ho-ok |58 is determined by turning the head 206. A, pointer 298 depending from the cover plate |91 may be usedv toregister with graduation-s upon the upper surfjace vuffa-dial or number plate 2-|0 to determine theprecise adjustment of the stop |98. The dial` 2-|-0y is-secured upon the topof the head 285 by a screw V2-ll9 in such position of angular vadjustment ,vasto-bring the zero-mark to whateverV location hasbeen foundmost suitable.

The lbracket |85 has abase 2|-2 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3,) in the'formV of ahoriz0ntal dovetail -slide which isguided for forward and rearward movement in a1 ,guideway formedby a pair of members 2M and-.216 Secured on the base-plate 34. The Ybeveled edges of ,the base or slide 212 .are indicated oni Fig. 3 by the numeral 2|8'. A gib 2|5, which may .be'tightened by 'screws 2l`|- (held by vlock nut-s), insuresv accuratebearing between theslide and its guideway. :Secured `to the lrear edge of the slide 2|2isa crossbar 22u (Fig. 3). A stop screw-222threaded througha lug 224 upstanding from the. base plate 31|. engages the crossbar 229 tonlimit the rearward movement of the slide 212. The .ends `roi" the crossbar 229 extend laterally beyond the sloping sides ci the slide 2|2 'and engage the-rear ends .of the guide members 2I4 andv `219 to limit the forwardrmovement 4of vthe slide. ZIfheslidamay-beshifted forwardly or rearwardly .by the operatorto its limitingv positions. A'spring detent 22S .mounted in vthe :guide -member 2|.l`r engages-notches r223- and 229 in the slide to retain thecslideein its rearward andforward limiting rpositions,respectively. Each notch 228 and 229 .has an inclined surface which `cooperateswith the-spring:detentby'camming action to hold the slide r yleldably in stopv position without backlash.

When .the -work pieces consist of' closed uppers, the'slide 2|2 Amay bashifted forwardly to bring thework supportawayfrom" the pressing roll and- 8 the 'ieedrolls andthus lenable afstack 'of uppers whichhavey accumulated "around the 'Work,--supf port to be removed from it. To -facilitate such removaL-a guard 239 (Fig. 2) .extending-,troma rear surfaceof the bracket t'o the seamcrease guide 22is provided-tokeepithe work fromcatchscrews 23A which pass through enlarged holes in the guide to permit slight adjustment. The lower portion of the Abracket 232 is slidably mounted for heightwise adjustment on* a ,guide 236 secured to and depending fromthe bar .2020. A clamping screw '239 passing througha slot in the bracket 232 maintains the bracket in anydesired position of heightwise adjustment. Thefrear seam crease guide -22 is similar to the lforward guide 29, and is similarly supported, Withproyision for heightwise adjustment, bythe bar 20|): It supports the workpiece immediately in their-ear of the disk |12. The guides 29 and 22, .beingcar ried by the plunger l82,are adjusted heightwise inunison with the disks |72, |14 and. |16 by turning the screw head '299.

The machine above described may be usedfor pressing the sea-ms of open as well'asof. closed uppers. It is convenient, when a batchfotreated open uppers has accumulated, `to tie .them together with a string upon removing them. To facilitate such handling of open uppers, :the illus. trated machine is provided with a support 2,411 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) upon which thetreateduppers may drop. This support consistshof anM- shaped piece of sheet metal which vstraddles the slidey 2|;2 (when `the slide isin operating position) and which is secured to the base plate -3'4 .by screws 242 passing through flanges 2M extending laterally from the member 24E). Thesupport -24`0rhasra V-shaped central trough, extending forwardly and rearwardly, which holds the string straight and in a convenient position. The useofth-is-device saves considerable time andtroublein tying together thebatch-.of treated uppers.

,To prevent fuzz from adheringto theperiphery ofthe pressing roll |10, there is 4provided vafelt wiper-246 (Fig. 2) supported by-a leaf spring. .248 secured to the cross piece S23 of the vvframe. The spring 248 holds the wiper 24S'yie1dinglyagainst the periphery of thefpressing roll. Y

The frame26 is designed'with particular .-re gard to the convenience of the operator inhandling the work. The side members 30 and y32=are positioned -far enough apart vto afford .access for the operators handson each side of thewwork support. To insure ample freedomsinmanipulating the work andlin removing batchesof 'treated open uppers, the members 30. and 3-2 are -notonljyspaced well apart, lbut theirbase portions, vas shown in Figs. Zand 3, are positioned well to the rear ofvthe work support I2, the' locality of operation, and theaxis of thefpresserroll lil. The cross piece 28 is inclined in a planeeatfrightangle's tojthe axis of the:l plunger |82, :the inciina-tionfqof these `parts being Vso* chosen fasgto bring, thef bite of the presser roll AHl and'thesupporting'.-disk'fl12" tangent to the operators line of sight, thereby aiording him a clear view of the work piece during the operation. To insure against flexing of the presser rollshaft 36 and the feed roll shafts 44 and I8 under pressure of the work, the cross piece 28 has an upstanding integral stiffening flange 256.

The operation of the illustrated machine will be evident from the above description. The slide '2I2, if not already in its normal or operatingposition, is moved rearwardly until stopped by the screw 222 and latched by the detent 226 in the notch 228. If the work is of the ordinary kind, without Hurley back stay tabs, the treadle is depressed to shift the knob |62 out of the Way of the neutral stop |60 and the neutral stop |60 is moved down into operative position. The treadle is then released to permit the spring |56 to hold the tab guide 24 in neutral or inoperative position with the knob |62 against the stop |60. When thus maintained in neutral position, the tab guide 24 does not obstruct the view and, furthermore, it is out of the way of certain types of work, such as high uppers having seams of re-entrant curvature as they extend upwardly ofthe shoe. Such uppers might otherwise, by reason` of the curvature of their seams, come into undesirable contact with the tab guide.

The operator then introduces the work piece W, flesh side up, over the guide 2li, with the guide engaging the seam crease. The upstanding seam ridge is then received within the flaring opening between the ridge guide members 88 and 96. The

operator thus advances the work piece by hand until it is gripped by the feed rolls I4 and I6. The operation of the presser roll IIJ, the feed rolls I4 and I 6, and the work supporting disks I'I2, |14 and I'I is similar to that of the corresponding members of the machine disclosed in Patent No. 2,419,596 above referred to. The ridge guide members 88 and 90 of the present machine, being yieldable laterally rather than heightwise, ymay be extended back close to the bite of the presser roll IIJ and the supporting disk |12 without danger of striking the presser roll; they are thereby enabled to control the work piece almost up to the locality of operation. The rear seam crease guide 22, which is new in the present machine, assists the forward guide 20 in keeping the work piece centered, and it also supports the work piece as it is leaving the locality of operation and overcomes any tendency of the work piece to sag and thereby tilt up its trailing end against the rapidly rotating presser roll with possible danger of damage to the work piece.

. If the work consists of closed uppers, the work pieces, after passing through the operating instrumentalities, drop from the rear guide 22 and stack up around the work support bracket |86. When a batch of uppers has thus accumulated, the operator pulls the slide 2|2 forward until it is latched by the detent 226 in the notch 229, and then removes the batch by lifting it up over the work support I2 and the crease guides 20 and 22. If, on the other hand, the work consists `of open uppers, a string will be laid in the trough of the member 24o before beginning the operation. The treated work pieces will drop off the guide 22 and will stack up on the member 240, from which they may be removed without shifting the slide 2I2. Upon removing thebatch of stacked uppers they may readily be tied together with the string.

If the work pieces have Hurley back stay tabs, the neutral stop |66 should be shifted up to its out-of-the-Way position. The spring |56 Will then normally hold the tab guide 24 against the stop |42 with the guide member |36, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, in its operative position for tabs extending toward the left. A For work pieces having tabs extending toward the right, the treadle should be held depressed to maintain the tab guide against the stop |44 with the guide member |40 in its operative position.

Having described our invention, what we` claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

i. In a machine for pressing the ridge of a seam joining the back quarters of a shoe upper of which one of the quarters has a tab extending above the seam ridge, a guide engageable With the tab as the work piece progresses to the pressing instrumentalities, said guide being constructed and arranged to lay 'the tab down over the other quarter to avoid exposure of the finished surface of the tab during further progress of the work.

2. In a machine for pressing the ridge of a seam joining the back quarters of a shoe upper of which one of the quarters has a tab extending above the seam ridge, a guide engageable with the tab as the work piece progresses to the pressing instrumentalities, said guide being constructed and arranged to lay the tab down over the other quarter to avoid exposure of the finished surface of the tab during further progress of the work, and a support upon which said guide is mounted for movement between operative and out-of-the-way positions,

3. In a machine for pressing the ridge of a seam joining the back quarters of a shoe upper of which one of the quarters has a tab extending above the seam ridge, a guide engageable with the tabas the work piece progresses to the pressing instrumentalities, said guide being constructed and arranged t0 lay the tab do-Wn over the other quarter to avoid exposure of the finished surface of the tab during further progress of the work, a support upon which said guide is mounted for movement between operative and out-of-the-way positions, resilient means for yieldingly holding said guide in one of said positions, and treadle-operated means for moving the guide into the other position.

4. In a machine for pressing the ridge of a seam joining the back quarters of a shoe upper of which one ofthe quarters has a tab extending above the seam ridge, means for laying the tab down over the other quarter to avoid exposure of the finished surface of the tab during further progress of the work, and a support for said laying means constructed and arranged to permit movement of the laying means between two positions, said positions being such asto enable the laying means to operate upon tabs extending from right and left quarters respectively.

5. In a machine for pressing the ridge of a seam joining the back quarters of a shoe upper of which one of the quarters has a tab extending above the seam ridge, a pair of guides, one of said guides being engageable with a tab extending from the right quarter of an upper to lay that tab down over the left quarter to avoid exposure of the finished surface of the tab during further progress of the work, the other guide being engageable with a tab extending from the left quarter of a different upper to lay that tab down over the right quarter for presentation to the pressing instrumentalities, and a support constructed and arranged for movement of said guides to bring meedere either. guide intdv its operating position Whilei movingithe" other fguide Yout of litsv operatin'gzp'osi`VV tionh.

6. In-a machine for pressing the ridge-of a seam joining-` the back quartersvof al shoe" upper ofI which one of thefquartersihasv atab extending aboverthe seam ridge, a pair offguides, one of said"` guides being engageable'f with ai. tab: ex'- tending from=fthe-lrght-quarter of. an upper' to lav-that tab ldow-n over'lthe'left quarterto avoid Aexposure ofthe finishedsurface-of-lthe-tab during further progress of the Work, the other 'guide being engageablevvtha tab extending from Vthe left'lquarter-o a diirentlupper to lay that tab doWn'over the right quarterk to avoid exposure of the Finished?v surfaceiof the A'tab vduring further progress offthev Work; and means for `moving said guides to bring each guide into its operating positionI and 'simultaneously to movethe other `guide out `4 of its operating position.

72 In a machine for pressing the kridgefof Ta seamjoining the back quarters of a shoe upper of Whioh'oneofthe quarters has tab extending above the seamVv ridge; a guide, a second. guide, asupport on -Whiehsaid guides fare 4mounted in xed relationto each'- other,` and means for movingfisaide support betweentvvoy positions; in-one of-'vvhich positions the Afirst-mentioned guide is engageable with: atab extending from the right qu'art'er'of` arr upper to lay that tab down over the leftquarter to avoidexposure ofthe inished surface'of the tabduring further progress ofthe Work and the second-mentioned' guide is `out* ofi the wav, and in the otherposition the'secondmentionedguide is engageablevvitlr altab extending from the 'left quarter-of-'a'dinerent-upper to laythat'tab down over the-rightfquarter -to avoidV exposure Y of the -nished` surface of the tab during-further-progress of the Work and the rstmentionedV guide is out ofthe Way;

8: In :it-machine for pressing therid'ge'ofa seam'.

joining-the back quarters of a-sh'oe upper of vwhichone ofV theV quarters -lias -a-tab Vextending pressing member;- adjustable i heig'htvvise2to1va11vabove the seamA ridge, a pair of'guides,on'eofr said guidesv beingiengageable 'with artab i extending. Y from the right-quarter of 'ani upper'tolay that tab "down over the lef-t quarter to avoid exposure ofthenished surface `offfthe tabduring further progress of thework,V the other guide being engageable with `a tab'extending from the left quarter ofV a different upper-to lay that tab down over-the'rightquarter to avoid exposure-'of the finished surface of the Vtab `duringfurther;pro-- gressof the Work, meansfor holding each guide in'its operati-ng position Wh'ilev'holding theffother guidein an 'out-ofethe-Way position, and 'means forsimultaneously holding both guides in out-of; the-way positions'when lthe 'machine -is tooperate upon a Work piece Without a` tab.v

9.".In"a machine for pressing'the seams of closed uppersh of shoes and-having a Apressing member engageable withaworkpieceirom above; and a cooperating pressing member normallyy beneath the-` inst-mentioned pressing member*A 'andi` enL gageable with the underside of the Work piece, said l`machine being constructed and arrangedr to enable'fea'ch work piece -at the f completionE of: an operation Ato` fall around the secondementioned pressing'f member withtheI second-mentioned pressing Amember`-'extendingl through the :central opening of'ftheclosed upper; a-slide-fupon/Which the second-mentioned! pressingv member is mounted? anda'v guide'wayf in WhichA said-y sli'de is movable f horizontally*4 to bring the secondmentionedpressingmemberout? from-under theliirs'ti 12 mentioned-1pressingffmember: to2azp'ositiorrfv cone venientforly the I,removal of: a.-.batch:iof:: treated closed Iuppersairom 'aroundrthe secondsmentibned pressingfmember 101i In a A machine fori' pressingathe seanisoi closedl uppers'f: of shoes andi having a pressing, member engageable with a Work pice-from above;vv azlcooperating.. pressing '.memberrnormally beneathl. the f irstementioned': pressingi member and 1 enfgageable :Withthe:V undersideiof ithewonk piece, andiy eti-support f for thea-second-lmentioned the; positron L of: the se'cond :mentionedfv pressing, member'.v toward?. andi fronfr` their: rstmenti'oned pressing; member, said: machines beinga.' cons structed @and arranged. ite enable each '.Workzpieee at it-hepcompletiorrzof an: operationftozallaroundi the secondi-mentioned? pressingrmembewandithe support-:With'thef supportFextendingrthrough th'e central-uopeningslof-rthe closedJ-upperg epslideson which; the secondementioned.; pressing: member; is mounted, and 'aziguideway"'inwhichsaidslid-eleis 'movableI horizontally: to -b-ring'-.the .secondi-mens, tionedizpressingxmemberand thefsupportouii front under :the mst-'mentioned V'press-ingr membertoca; positionitconveni'ent foir'the'removal off'zabatclron treated eloseduppersz'. from: around thee-support? 11. In a machine for:pressingythei'seariisf on olosedc. uppers: of sh'oesif and-1; having' ari rotary rubbing rtoolf engageablevrith a iseami ridge-:ups standing from'A awwork piece; a Work: supportinoii-iA` Inally'fben'eathsaid: rubbing:tool'zandiiengageable with the underside 4of the? werke piecepandziworki feeding .means, d:said machinefbeinggconstructed: and'- arrangedtotenable eachrworkpiece -atth'e completion; ofi an; operationtof fall areunditlie Werkt supporti with the: zw'o'rk support `5;.extending through thefcentral:iop'enngeofthe eised'mpper; azfslid'efiupon Winch.` theeworkxsupport fisfimounted'l andra guidevvayVl in .whichtisaidi slide.' s movable forwardly' to bring-thev Works upport position convenient for :theV removalf ofay Lbat'c Iofiitreato-d. closed uppers :from around fthecworksupport 12;;.I1raimach'ine Iof' the fclassfde'scribedgf a'work support, aabase: on I whichsaid work l'sup'por-t isv mounted-g da-tirotary.ftooll ifor operatingr'on -araWer-li2 piece@ on saidfwork support; a. shaftonaw-hidhsa'idL toolI is' mounted;` means fior"drivingfsaid-fshaft;-a pairfof feed 'rolls'. yengag'eable wi-thitheworkpiee at I-opposite sides 1 oflsa-idC- tool a span offer-rafts uponiwhich'said feed-'rolls arerespective y-rnounti4 ed,"i gearing betweerr eacnov` the fed-rollslfiafts and' trieetooll` 'shaft-fordri-ving'the eed rolf'shafts'; al# pair*J ofi' sideffrfam'ef members L extending? up# wardly from said base on opposite sidsofttl work supportiand-having their lower portions spaced-'laterally and also rearwardly of- -thework support i to` afford Aaccess for-the '-handsof 't the* operator 'in"manipulating'the Work;'across fra'rre member-carried' by saidl side frame' members; bearings` for saidtool shaftandufor said-'Sfeed roll shafts carried by. said' crossframe member adjacent tltheY locality of foperationr.iandlother bearingsior said shaft's-supportedvb'y the :frame memberssremote i from the .locality of-:operationi 13.-- In` aiseam pressing machine; azsupport for a: swork ypiece fhavingrzan iupstandingf- 'seam'` ridge; aiztoor for pressing V, the seamf ridge of` ith'e Wort:` piece oniV the workfsupport', means; for.. feeding: thefvvork ipiecei yp'a'stisaidv tool, .and 1a'=bladelike member? positionedrearwardly 'of theflo'calityfof: operation for centering the Work piecerinfitspasi-. sage' past the :tool and@forLsupportingrthe:work piece astheework-zpiceipasses from: beneath they tool and the work support to prevent upward tilting of the trailing end of the work piece.`

14. In a seam pressing machine, a disk-shaped member having its periphery adapted to support a work piece having an upstanding seam ridge, a tool for pressing the seam ridge of the work piece on the work support, means for feeding the Work piece past said tool, and a pair of bladelike members positioned forwardly and rearwardly of the locality of operation for centering the work piece in its passage past the tool, the rear blade-like member serving also to support the work piece as the work piece passes between the tool and the work support to prevent upward tilting of the trailing end of the work piece.

15. A seam pressing machine comprising a work supporting element, a pressing tool cooperating with said work supporting element to press the seam ridge of a work piece, a plunger on which said work supporting element is mounted, a guide in which said plunger is mounted for movement of the work supporting element toward and from said pressing tool, a stop for limiting the movement of the work supporting element toward the pressing tool, a slide on which said stop is mounted, a guideway in which said slide is movable to vary the position of the stop and thereby the limiting position of the work supporting element toward and from the pressing tool, an extension on the slide, an abutment on said extension, a spring interposed between said abutment and the plunger to urge the plunger and the work supporting element toward the pressing tool as far as permitted by said stop, an adjustable connection between the abutment and the extension to enable the stress of the spring to be adjusted without varying the position of the stop, and means for adjustably securing the slide in a desired position in its guideway to enable the limiting position of the work support to be adjusted toward and from the pressing tool without varying the stress of the spring.

ALFRED S. CLARK. EDWARD M. SPENCE, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 30,122 Stewart Jan. 31, 1899 643,455 Bayley Feb. 13, 1900 956,387 Magson Apr. 26, 1910 1,475,255 Trosch Nov. 27, 1923l 

